Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Research Assistant, Department of Ornamental Plant Biotechnology, Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research: ACECR, Razavi Khorasan Province, Mashhad, Iran
2 Assistant Professor, Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Jahrom University, Jahrom, Iran
3 Professor, Department of Biotechnology and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
4 M.Sc. Graduate of Biotechnology and Plant Breeding, Department of Ornamental Plant Biotechnology, Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research: ACECR, Razavi Khorasan Province, Mashhad, Iran
Abstract
Background and objectives
Gerbera is one of the most important ornamental plants that used as cut flower and potted plant. The common methods of propagation does not have performance for supplying the global demand of this ornamental plant. So the most common method for commercial propagation of gerbera is micropropagation.
Material and methods
In this study, effect of different hormonal treatments and cultivars on micropropagation and rooting of gerbera shoot tip explant was evaluated. Shoot tip explants were first washed with running tap water for 30 min then they were surface sterilized by dipping in 1.5% sodium hypochlorite solution for 5 min and rinsed with sterile distilled water, followed by immersing in 0.1 % mercuric chloride solution for 5 min. After Sterilization with mercuric chloride solution, capitulum was washed with sterile distilled water. Subsequent washing was done with sterile distilled water three times. Sterilization with sodium hypochlorite solution and mercuric chloride and final rinse with sterile distilled water were done under laminar air flow hood. In the proliferation phase, MS medium containing 1 mg/l BA or KIN in combination with 0.1 mg/l IAA or hormone-free medium, 3% sucrose, 8 g/l agar was used. For rooting of propagated plantlets, ½ MS medium containing 1 mg/l IBA, IAA, 2IP or ½ MS hormone-free medium, 3% sucrose, 8 g/l agar was used. After 4 weeks different parameters such as number of plantlet, height of plantlet, number of main root, root length, number of secondary root were measured. Cultivars that was used in this experiment are as follows: 1: ‘Aventura’, 2: ‘Barones’, 3: ‘Mayfair’, 4: ‘Cacharelle’, 5: ‘Real’, 6: ‘Sorbet’, 7: ‘Dalma’, 8: ‘Goldy’, 9: ‘Panama’, 10: ‘Lancaster’, 11: ‘Dune’, 12: ‘Bellavue’, 13: ‘Blinddate’, 14: ‘Applause’, 15: ‘Sunway’.
Results and discussion
The results showed that in all studied cultivars, the medium containing BA lead to producing the highest number of plantlet. So using the medium containing BA in propagation phase is recommended for obtaining the highest number of plantlet. Also the results showed that the rooting of gerbera plantlets was affected by cultivar and suitable hormonal composition for rooting of each cultivar was different. However, the appropriate acclimation of produced plantlets is so important. Although the length and number of roots in ½ MS medium was at the average of other treatments, but propagated plantlets from this medium, had a suitable acclimation capacity. Moreover, additional cost for utilization of rooting hormones was reduced and therefore commercial production cost decreased. So application of this medium for rooting of different gerbera cultivars is recommended. Finally acclimation of rooted plantlet was done in cocopeat and perlite medium, with 95% success.
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